PBA names Miller Player of the Week

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In a move that gratified Alaska fans the PBA named Willie Miller as co-Player of the Week following back-to-back victories by the Aces this week which propelled the team to the top of the standings in the PBA Philippine Cup.

Jay Washington of the San Miguel Beermen was named co-Player of the Week.

Miller earned back-to-back Player of the Game citations from the television panel after he towed the Aces to successive victories over the Red Bull Barakos and the Rain or Shine or Elasto Painters.

Miller powered Alaska past the Red Bull Barakos, 89-83, at the JCSGO gym - an old cramped playing court along narrow 15th Avenue, at the outskirts of Cubao about one kilometer away from the Araneta Coliseum inside the spacious Araneta Center.

He finished with 13 markers, grabbed nine rebounds and issued six assists to lead the Aces to victory.

Miller was even more overpowering when he led the Aces past the Elasto Painters, 91-84, last Sunday.

He finished with a double-double, scoring a game-high 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to earn his second consecutive Player of the Game honors. More importantly he scored seven straight points at crunch time to personally tow the Aces to victory.

We have the best closer in the league in Willie Miller, said Alaska coach Tim Cone. He makes the big shots and closes a team out. That is what we do. We keep it close and obviously in the end, it is going to be Miller time.

Miller also issued two assists and tallied two steals in yet another brilliant all-around game.

Willie works so hard to be the best, said Cone. People just see the playful side of Willie. They see him always goofing off. They do not realize how hard he works. He is the hardest working player at practice. He works on his shots. He works in his conditioning. He works to get the plays right.

Washington was equally impressive when he scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Beermen to a third straight win following a losing season debut against the Alaska Aces.

Alaska is the only unbeaten team this conference with four straight victories.

Trailing the Aces in the standings are the San Miguel Beermen (3-1), the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings (2-1), the Sta. Lucia Realtors (2-1), the Talk N Text Tropang Texters (2-2), the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (2-2), the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants (1-3), the CocaCola Tigers (1-3), the Red Bull Barakos (1-3) and the Air21 Express (1-3).